Apple's next-generation iPhone -- expected to abandon a 3.5mm headphone jack -- will probably replace the part with a second speaker, according to a Barclays research memo obtained by AppleInsider.

To power the speaker, Apple will use a second amp built by supplier Cirrus Logic, said analysts Blayne Curtis and Christopher Hemmelgarn. The headphone jack on the iPhone 6s is located along the same edge as its single speaker, which might make it a natural location to expand into stereo.

A number of competing smartphones already offer stereo speakers. Sometimes these are located along the same edge, but in other cases they're on opposite ends of a device, enabling better panning when in landscape mode.

In contrast with a recent report, Curtis and Hemmelgarn argued that the next iPhone will not employ dynamic noise cancellation, but instead use a basic digital codec. Built-in noise cancellation might instead have to wait for an "iPhone 7s" in 2017.

The analysts added that the "iPhone 7" should, however, ship with its own Lightning-equipped headphones. In January a rumor indicated that Apple might also offer truly wireless Bluetooth headphones as an optional accessory, ditching not just a 3.5mm cable, but even a connecting wire between earpieces.

Comments

This is the dumbest rumor yet. I'm all for removing the 3.5mm headphone jack unless it's for this. The quality of a speaker that small, and the lack of spatial separation makes this all but pointless for the customer. Barclay's is just speculating, and doing so badly. Did they bother to consult with any audio engineers first?

This is the dumbest rumor yet. I'm all for removing the 3.5mm headphone jack unless it's for this. The quality of a speaker that small, and the lack of spatial separation makes this all but pointless for the customer. Barclay's is just speculating, and doing so badly. Did they bother to consult with any audio engineers first?

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. The stereo separation at 2" is going to be mind blowing!

this rumor is about Cirrus Logic, The analysis is trying to drive up interest in Cirrus Logic, why by saying the phone will have a second chip, which mean Apple business with them will double. Idiots who believe this, the chip in the phone is most likely a stereo chip already, who make mono sound chip these days. Even if it was mono chip, apple would not add a second chip, they would got to stereo chip. Plus, most likely the chip that drives the speaker also drives the headphones which is stereo.

This is the dumbest rumor yet. I'm all for removing the 3.5mm headphone jack unless it's for this. The quality of a speaker that small, and the lack of spatial separation makes this all but pointless for the customer. Barclay's is just speculating, and doing so badly. Did they bother to consult with any audio engineers first?

Thanks for cheering me up by pointing out how vague the rumor is. I wish Apple would internalize the notion that people really need at least TWO ports - power + other. My common use case is to charge my phone in my car while listening to music. My car's got an awesome stereo, but needs a physical connection.

I wonder if it would be possible to make an adapter that not only has a headphone jack but a pass through lightning charger? Then the issue would be moot.

This is the dumbest rumor yet. I'm all for removing the 3.5mm headphone jack unless it's for this. The quality of a speaker that small, and the lack of spatial separation makes this all but pointless for the customer. Barclay's is just speculating, and doing so badly. Did they bother to consult with any audio engineers first?

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. The stereo separation at 2" is going to be mind blowing!

It would be awesome and I'm sure that the stereo separation would be great if somebody's head was the size of a golfball.

This is the dumbest rumor yet. I'm all for removing the 3.5mm headphone jack unless it's for this. The quality of a speaker that small, and the lack of spatial separation makes this all but pointless for the customer. Barclay's is just speculating, and doing so badly. Did they bother to consult with any audio engineers first?

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. The stereo separation at 2" is going to be mind blowing!

Indeed, 2 speakers on the bottom for portrait stereo is money well wasted and totally useless. However landscape stereo wouldn't be a bad idea for those who watch movies on their phone, something I would prefer not do, considering all the larger screen options, I would rather wait.

Separation aside, having stereo speakers would reduce intermodulation distortion because the speakers aren't having to work as hard to reproduce disparate frequencies.

Disparate frequencies ? Stereo uses 2 different signals or channels but using the same frequency range. I'm not sure if you're thinking about a 2-way system with 2 speaker drivers, such as woofer & tweeter with a crossover in same enclosure, with different (or disparate) frequency ranges, in which case, is essentially not in the same discussion as stereo.However if it were a 2-way system rather than stereo, which I would think unlikely, it certainly would make much more sense to put them side by side at the bottom, although this would still produce a mono single channel output.

Is that mean we won't be able to recharge iPhone while listening to music? And bluetooth headphones means they need recharging too, its getting harder to listen to music?

1) a pass-thru adapter is conceivable.

2) i use BT headphones several days a week, i just have to charge them on occasion. its part of a routine like my other wireless devices.

Yeah That Means its harder to listen music, eg, I wont buy an apple watch, a watch which I need to charge everyday and a watch that I need to upgrade every year, bluetooth headphones are good options but if they r the only alternative its sucks, it makes u listening to music less than before pyshclogically...Those r bad ideas sorry...a pass tru adapter sucks too